Season 2: Episode 6
Hope and Will: A Parenting Podcast from Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Autism: How a New Tool Supports Earlier Diagnosis
For this episode, we have the honor of being joined by two leaders from Marcus Autism Center who are internationally recognized for their thought leadership in the world of autism: Dr. Ami Klin and Dr. Warren Jones. They recently published groundbreaking research that stands to change how and when kids are diagnosed with autism by measuring a child's looking behavior. They'll help us understand what this new technology means for families, as well as why early diagnosis is so important for kids with autism. To kick things off, we hear from Renee Britt, a mom whose son was diagnosed at age 3.
By the end of this episode, you'll have a better understanding of what autism is, behaviors parents should watch for if they suspect their child might have autism, and why early diagnosis is so important. If you suspect a child you know might be on the spectrum, this insightful conversation is not to be missed.
Renee Britt, Mom to Shae, Dawson and Radler
Renee knew something was different about her son, Dawson, when he was a toddler. She followed her intuition to Marcus Autism Center, where Dawson became an early participant in eye-tracking research that ultimately diagnosed him with autism. Renee is passionate about helping other families who have children with autism and wrote a book about Dawson’s strong bond with his big sister.
Dr. Ami Klin, Director of Marcus Autism Center
Ami Klin, PhD, is a Georgia Research Alliance Eminent Scholar Professor, as well as the Division Chief of Autism and Developmental Disabilities at Emory University School of Medicine. Dr. Klin’s primary research activities focus on the social mind and brain and the developmental aspects of autism spectrum disorder from infancy through adulthood. He and his wife have two sons and a daughter. He enjoys scuba diving, music (his eldest son is a professional musician), traveling to wineries, visiting extended family in Brazil and Israel.
Dr. Warren Jones, Director of Research at Marcus Autism Center
Warren Jones, PhD, is the Director of Research at Marcus Autism Center. Dr. Jones is also the Norman Nien Distinguished Chair in Autism and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding the origins and development of autism so that he can help develop tools for objective early diagnosis and prediction of outcome for individuals with autism.
Lynn Smith
Lynn Smith is a veteran journalist, podcast host and mom of two boys. Her experience as the parent of a patient at Children’s inspired her to advocate for spreading awareness of childhood illnesses and injuries.